Chesterfield manager Jack Lester has said that he may need to delve into the emergency loan market following Joe Anyon’s injury in the 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town last night.

Anyon was forced off the field in the closing stages at the Highbury Stadium, when coming to collect ball at the feet of Fleetwood substitute Alex Reid. Defender Laurence Maguire then stepped up to play in goal for the remainder of the Checkatrade Trophy second round tie.

Speaking exclusively to iFollow, Lester was unsure of the extent of Anyon’s injury: “It was an impact injury and he says that it doesn’t feel right and I think he’ll probably need an x-ray, if it is broken we’ll have to bring in somebody on an emergency loan.”

Anyon’s withdrawal capped off a disappointing night for the Spireites as goals from Jack Sowerby in the first half and a late Reid strike sealed the ‘Cod Army’s’ passage into round three.

The likes of Reece Mitchell, Matt Briggs and Scott Wiseman all returned to the starting XI in Lancashire and Lester felt that overall the Spireites were not at the level that they’ve been at in recent weeks.

He said: “I thought they were better than us in the first half and we had a lot of possession in the second half. Until Joe got injured and we went down to ten men I don’t think they had even got into our half.

“But we didn’t really threaten their goal tonight, in the first half we didn’t perform. We gave a lot of people opportunities tonight and because we’ve had one or two injuries, who needed a rest and also one or two who deserved to have a chance, but I’m not sure we’ve taken the chances with the opportunities being given.”

The Spireites boss now has his sights set on the clash with Barnet at the Proact this Saturday (3pm), challenging his players to get back to their best, in what is an important fixture.

“We’re five unbeaten in the league and won our last two games at home, it’s a massive game for us and now all of our energy will go towards that,” Lester explained.

“We’ve pulled ourselves from a difficult situation and pulled some great results out of the hat and we want another one on Saturday.

“It’s something that we are looking forward too, our recent run of results has given us the opportunity to get off the bottom.

“Barnet will be very competitive and wanting to win, but we’ll be ready for the game and it’ll be all systems go.”

Lester will be hoping to have Ian Evatt and Jak McCourt back for the fixture with the Bees after both of whom missed the tie with Fleetwood. With the manager confirming the reasons for their absences.

He added: “Evo [Evatt] just had a little bit of a jab in his knee as it was a little bit sore and it was an opportunity that he needed to do and we’re hoping he’ll be ok.

“Jak’s ankle was still a little bit sore and from the kick he had, so he didn’t travel, we’ll see how they are towards the weekend.”